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Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority names new director

Willie Brooks has been named the new executive director of the Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority. Brooks, the authority’s former CFO, replaces Jeff Brown, who left the authority in April.

“We consider ourselves extremely fortunate that Mr. Brooks has accepted the official role to lead our network in public mental health service delivery,” said Malkia Newman, the authority’s board chair, in a statement. “His demonstrated commitment to the people we serve, our core provider agencies, and to our internal staff members has proven to be a valuable asset in our ability to inspire hope, empower people, and strengthen communities.”

Brooks has more than 30 years experience in human services and health care. He earned his master of arts in economics and a master of science in finance from Walsh College.

“I consider it a tremendous privilege to work in the company of people whom I believe to exemplify extraordinary pillars of service, character and commitment to help others,” said Brooks in a statement.

In a previous statement to Crain’s, Newman said the decision to let Brown go had nothing to do with recent 5 percent Medicaid budget cuts the authority incurred this year from the state Department of Community Health. She said Brown’s departure was keyed to the authority’s desire to go in a different direction.

Brown was with the authority since 2002, and has been executive director since 2006.

"The past seven years I have had the honor of leading the best community mental health organization in the state of Michigan," Brown said in a statement last month. "Significant recent socioeconomic changes in our community only strengthened my resolve to insist that people we serve remained first in every decision we made."